Lapo Elkann and Anh Duong Show at Robilant + Voena in London

“I hate the word selfie,” artist Anh Duong announced at the London debut of her latest body of self-portraits and sculptures at the Robilant + Voena gallery on Dover Street last night. But she concedes her work, beautifully self-deprecating and intimate pictures, was conceived with the use of the mirror. “These paintings show a side of me that was hidden behind an appearance,” she said. The event—which celebrated not only Duong’s latest offerings on view on the second floor, but also a new book project featuring Lapo Elkann on the first level (“The coolest Italian in the world,” according to a breathless guest) drew the likes of Laura Bailey,Lily Cole, and taxidermy artist Polly Morgan, among others, all filling the Italian-flag-draped space, basil and lavender margaritas in hand. The coffee table–style book, aptly titled The Italian (Elkan, after all, showed up at to the party in a Maserati wearing a Rubinacci pinstripe suit) was shot by world-renowned Wayne Maser and written by Glenn O’Brien, and the decor, it was revealed, was procured by the man himself. He borrowed the flags from the Italian embassy earlier that day—a perfectly fitting way to fete the international man of style.

The Italian book project will be on view through February 28 and “ANH DUONG – Can You See Me” through March 21 at the Robilant + Voena gallery at 38 Dover Street London W1S 4NL.